MJF defending the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe headlines this year’s Dynamite Grand Slam.
AEW runs Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York City for Grand Slam tonight for the third consecutive year, with MJF defending against Joe in the headline spot.
In addition, three more titles will be on the line on tonight’s episode.
AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya will defend her title against Toni Storm this evening. Saraya and Storm formed two-thirds of The Outcasts group before Storm recently broke off on her own with her “Illustrious” gimmick.
Jon Moxley is set to defend the AEW International Championship against Rey Fenix on tonight’s show. Fenix declared himself the top contender to Moxley’s title and the two have played off one another in backstage angles on Collision and Dynamite in the ensuing weeks.
In the evening’s other title bout, ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli faces NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston in a match with both titles on the line.
Chris Jericho vs. Sammy Guevara will also take place on tonight’s show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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AEW Dynamite Grand Slam comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone, Taz & Ian Riccaboni as our title for title match is kicking things off tonight. Claudio Castagnoli, rocking a sweat Ribera Steakhouse jacket, walked backstage with Wheeler Yuta, as Eddie Kingston got last minute good luck from Penta El Zero Miedo & Alex Abrahantes.
Eddie Kingston defeated Claudio Castagnoli (w/Wheeler Yuta) to win the ROH World Title
(Having watched all the video packages they’ve done highlighting the history between these two, this was a fantastic ending to Kingston’s journey to win the big one. The reaction from the crowd, the show of respect post match, Kingston finally being given his flowers on a big stage, it was all excellent.)
Both men wasted no time trading chops and forearms out the gate, with the crowd loudly behind the hometown Kingston. To the floor they went, as Kingston drove Castagnoli knee first into the barricade, but the tide was turned with Castagnoli reversing a whip into a clothesline. Back inside, Castagnoli hit an impressive gut wrench suplex, but a slap woke Kingston up as he delivered a snap German suplex. Castagnoli seemingly headbutt his way through a Kingston backfist on the apron and delivered a back suplex out onto the stage. Castagnoli zoned in on the left arm of Kingston, connecting with a double stomp off the second rope and a wild uppercut for two taking us to picture in picture.
Castagnoli controlled a majority of the break, relentlessly uppercutting Kingston in the corner followed by a TKO for two. Kingston started hulking up, delivering an enzugiri and Saito suplex for a near fall of his own. The Kobashi machine gun chops were unloaded, but Castagnoli no sold, so Kingston just popped him in the face with a right hand. Castagnoli returned the favor with a punch of his own and it led to an intense face off. More chops and forearms were unleashed until Castagnoli blocked a chop and hit a snap lariat for two. Anvil elbow led to a Ricola Bomb attempt, which Kingston got a hurricanrana pin attempt out of. Castagnoli fired up and hit a huge uppercut and the Ricola Bomb for a super close two that had the crowd going wild.
Castagnoli pulled Kingston up, who fired off multiple spinning backfists and Northern Lights Bomb, but this time, Castagnoli kicked out. Kingston couldn’t hit the powerbomb the first time, so he unleashed another backfist and connected on the powerbomb with the high stack to win the match and the title. Post match, Castagnoli extended his hand, Kingston shook it and Castagnoli handed over the ROH Title to have Kingston standing tall with the ROH & NJPW Strong Titles.
-Video of Matt Taven & Mike Bennett praying at Roderick Strong’s hospital bed side last week is shown. Taven has a rosary around his hand and read a get well card. Adam Cole came in much to the delight of Strong, as Taven & Bennett said it was convenient he arrives now since they have to leave for Grand Slam to become #1 Contenders for the ROH Tag Titles. Cole left literally 10 seconds later, saying he has to be there for MJF in his match with Samoa Joe. Strong was dejected, as Cole stopped at the sound of Strong reclining his bed up to show his disappointment, but left. Everyone involved in this storyline, The Kingdom & Strong especially, continue to knock this out of the park.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Luchasaurus & Christian Cage, who said they will walk through Sting & Darby Allin at Rampage Grand Slam. Cage issues a challenge to Allin for Collision, a three way match with Luchasaurus & himself for the TNT Title. The only caveat being Sting is not allowed at ringside. As for Rampage, Cage told Allin to make sure he brings the boy.
Chris Jericho defeated Sammy Guevara
(This was a solid back and forth first time meeting between these two, as there was a few moments where they were on different pages, but got right back on track leading to a real good finish. Excalibur had name dropped Shawn Michaels pre-match when talking about Jericho wrestling his mentor, as Guevara was at the same point in his career. So the post match should come as no surprise, as this was right out of the Wrestlemania 19 playbook and done masterfully by both men.)
Guevara’s entrance included a light up vest as homage to Jericho, as Monteasy rapped Guevara’s theme to the ring. Both men shook hands, but that turned to slaps and chops soon after. Guevara did his leap frog and dropkick, posing for the crowd, as Jericho paint brushed him to put a stop to it. More chops by Jericho led to a double arm underhook back breaker, but Guevara dodged the springboard corner dropkick. Guevara connected on the corkscrew tornillo, as back inside, a top rope cross body hit for two. Jericho countered a GTH into a Code Breaker and delivered a suplex off the apron to the floor that took us to commercial.
It was all Jericho during break, until finally Guevara mounted a comeback with a Spanish Fly for two. Jericho fired up and laid out Guevara with multiple lariats to get two of his own. A float over in the corner allowed Guevara to hit a Code Breaker, as he sent Jericho to the outside. Guevara hit a moonsault off the top to the floor and briefly clutched his knee in the process. The hesitation to follow up allowed Jericho to hit a dropkick in mid air on a springing Guevara. We kind of got a messed up spot where Jericho was going to try his springboard dropkick in the corner, Guevara missed the first superkick attempt, but hit the second, followed by a huge Cutter off the top for two.
Guevara tried again for the GTH, but this time Jericho countered into the Walls of Jericho. Guevera was able to fight free, hit a pump knee, as both fought up in the corner with Guevara hitting an Avalanche Cutter. Jericho’s face was driven right into the mat in the process. Jericho missed a dropkick, as Guevara missed a top rope Lionsault. After a face buster, Jericho hit with his Lionsault for two. Guevara fired off a pump knee, finally hit the GTH, but a Shooting Star Press was countered into a Code Breaker in mid air to give Jericho the win.
Post match, Jericho & Guevara shook hands and hugged before Guevara punted Jericho, who slid down Guevara before getting pie faced. Don Callis walked to the ring and then to the back with presumably the newest member of his family, Sammy Guevara.
-MJF & Adam Cole arrived at the arena in a snazzy ride, as MJF said tonight he will bash Samoa Joe’s skull in. Joe tried to take away two precious things to him, the AEW Title and his brother, Adam Cole. Tonight, MJF will choke out Joe in front of his people. The last thing Joe will hear before passing out is the chants of MJF. Right as MJF was about to hit his signature line, Cole’s phone started buzzing and it was Roderick Strong. Cole took the call, as MJF asked if Cole would still have his back. Cole walked off to take the call.
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-Renee Paquette tried to get a word with Don Callis & Sammy Guevara, as Callis said all will be told on Rampage whether or not Guevara is the newest member of the Don Callis Family. Daniel Garcia walked up and Guevara tried to get in his face, but Callis held him back, saying Garcia was money.
Rey Fenix (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Jon Moxley to win the AEW International Title
(I don’t think this was the planned finish, as post match, Moxley was being attended to by doctors and we never saw him again. Excalibur did inform us after commercial Moxley left under his own power. I really hope he’s ok, as he seemed to be dropped right on his head from the first Black Fire Driver. They clearly called an audible, as things were going perfectly fine up to the finish, which caught everyone off guard, which includes fans, referee, even Fenix. Again, I hope Moxley isn’t severely injured, as you talk about the backbone of AEW, he’s been there through it all.)
Before the match officially began, both men brawled on the ramp, with Fenix hitting a springboard kick and diving somersault dive off the stage, clearing the camera man. The bell sounds, as Fenix used his speed to avoid Moxley strikes briefly until Moxley hit a forearm in mid air as Fenix tried a somersault cutter. Fenix bit his way out of a kimura, tried his bounce back kick, but Moxley just punted him to the floor. Fenix tried to walk the guardrail into a kick, but Moxley swept the legs and hit a double underhook draping DDT.
Both men fought back inside, this time Fenix was able to hit the corner spinning kick and somersault cutter. Fenix wasted no time and hit the Frog Splash, but only managed two. Fenix charged full steam, but right into a King Kong Lariat from Moxley, who wasted too much time, allowing Fenix to kip up, drape Moxley over the barricade outside and hit a leg drop off the top rope. Right as they went to commercial, Fenix tried a springboard back inside, but Moxley dropped him with a Death Rider for two.
Moxley hit a Gotch Style Piledriver, but Fenix fought back while in the ropes and delivered a double stomp. Both men spilled to the stage, where Moxley hit a Curb Stomp that absolutely spiked Fenix, as it was followed by another piledriver back inside for two. Moxley wanted an Avalanche Death Rider, but Fenix fought out and hit a Senton Atomico. Fenix connected with his Black Fire Driver, Moxley didn’t kick out, but Rick Knox pulled the count. Fenix proceeded to hit another Black Fire Driver and this time Knox counted three to the shock of literally everyone in attendance, myself included.
-Samoa Joe is backstage and said tonight is a night of consequences. Tonight, Joe will smash MJF from pillar to post and he will beat him in front of his hometown. It won’t be the future Joe takes from MJF, it’ll be his championship.
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Saraya (w/Ruby Soho) defeated Toni Storm to retain the AEW Women’s Title
(This had all the bells and whistles that the Outcasts have used to win matches over the past year and it ended up telling a good story, especially with this new Storm character. I will continue to sing Storm’s praises, as this whole character overhaul she’s done over the last few months remains my favorite thing going in AEW, even if I have no idea where she goes from here.)
Storm has a full black and white entrance for her starlet character and the theme to go along with it is wonderful. Saraya slapped Storm in the face multiple times and berated her before Storm laughed in her face. Storm fired off chops and laid out Soho for good measure before walking into a Saraya thrust kick. Storm gained control by sweeping the leg on the apron and went under the ring. Soho pulled her out and Storm emerged with shoes, beating down Soho, who didn’t watch for the shoooooe. The ref took one shoe away from Storm, who clocked Saraya with a high heel and got a two count. Storm hit a draping DDT on Saraya during picture in picture, but Soho’s distraction allowed Saraya to take control.
Saraya hit a sunset flip bomb out of the corner, but Storm fired back with shots and exposed the bottom buckle pad. Soho pulled the spray paint away from Storm and she threw it to Saraya, who sprayed Storm, hit the Knight Cap, but Storm kicked out. Saraya couldn’t bring herself to slam Storm face first into the exposed buckle, so Storm blocked a kick, laid a smooch on Saraya and hit Storm Zero for a super close two. With Saraya set up in the exposed corner, Storm charged for Sweet Cheek Music, but Saraya dodged and hit the Knight Cap out of the corner to get the pin.
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-During MJF’s entrance started with a callback to the old Bret Hart video where a child and his father yell to MJF backstage and tells him “go get’em, champ”. MJF smiled, gave the child his scarf and whispered something to the child before walking off. The child then asked his father if he was adopted. Commentary was laughing as Excalibur said that’s our scumbag. This was absolutely brilliant.
MJF defeated Samoa Joe to defend the AEW World Title
(A fantastic main event with MJF doing exactly what he said he would do at the end of this contest. As I mentioned in the recap, I really hope Cole didn’t hurt his ankle when he rushed to the ring, as having him & Moxley hurt on the same night and missing time would be awful. Back to the match, Joe did a great job trying to put an end to MJF, as the champion was able to slay the monster by any means necessary.)
Joe toyed with MJF briefly, until an eye poke allowed MJF to try a sleeper, only Joe slammed MJF down with the champion selling his bad neck. A running boot and senton got the first near fall, as Joe worked over the neck during the entire picture in picture. MJF avoided a Muscle Buster into a roll up for two and popped Joe with a head kick to follow. Lariats by MJF connected, but he sold the injured neck after each one, which allowed Joe to throw a wild lariat for two. Joe ripped the New York Mets inspired Better Than You, BayBay shirt off MJF, who fired up as a result. MJF got a back rake, drove Joe head first in the corner ten times, delivered ten punches, bit Joe and connected on the Kangaroo Kick to send Joe to the outside as the crowd went nuts.
MJF wanted a dive, but Joe hit a kick through the ropes followed by a violent Death Valley Driver on the edge of the ring. MJF managed to kick out, as Joe pulled a table from under the ring, set it up ringside and drove MJF through it with an Uranage. Referee Paul Turner just allowed this to happen and counted two back in the ring. Joe exposed the panel and tried a piledriver, but MJF bit the knee of Joe to escape. MJF couldn’t hit one of his own, as Joe fought it off and laid out MJF with the piledriver on the floor. Doctors rushed MJF, as they were almost all dispatched by Joe, who threw MJF into the ring for a cover, but MJF kicked out.
Joe screamed at MJF to give up, but MJF spat right in his face, so a slap from Joe soon followed. Joe charged for a home run shot, but MJF floated over and hit a massive sitout powerbomb for two. Both men traded strikes and traded sleeper attempts before MJF hit a mule kick and put on the Dynamite diamond ring. MJF went to charge with it, but Joe pulled the ref in front, who saw the ring, took it from MJF, allowing Joe to punt low. The Muscle Buster connected, but MJF kicked out and Joe couldn’t believe it. Joe slapped on the sleeper, MJF began to fade, but Adam Cole sprinted from the back to cheer MJF on, whose arm didn’t fall a third time. As Cole came out, he jumped off the stage to rush around the ring and noticeably tweaking his ankle in the process.
MJF managed to get a roll up for two before getting a sleeper of his own, but Joe ran into the corner, Paul Turner leaping to the floor to avoid taking a bump. Cole handed MJF a rope, as he wrapped it around Joe’s throat until Joe passed out in a sleeper allowing MJF retain. MJF hugged Paul Turner as Cole hid the evidence. Joe finally came to and shoved Cole, as MJF stood between them. Joe offered a handshake and MJF shook it before Joe went to the back. The doctor checked on MJF as Cole applauded his brochacho to end the show.
AEW Rampage: Grand Slam 9/22/23
· Sting & Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage & Luchasaurus
· Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony vs. The Young Bucks & Hangman Adam Page for the ROH Six Man Tag Titles
· Orange Cassidy, HOOK & Kris Statlander vs. Angelo Parker, Matt Menard & Anna Jay
· The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass defend the AEW Trios Titles against Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds & John Silver
· The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff) vs. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) for a shot at the ROH Tag Team Titles at Wrestle Dream
· Mike Santana will be in action
· Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue
AEW Collision 9/23/23
· Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks in a Texas Death Match
· Switchblade Jay White vs. Andrade El Idolo
· Luchasaurus vs. Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title
· RVD will be in action
· FTR defend the AEW Tag Titles against The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
AEW Dynamite 9/27/23
· Swerve Strickland & Hangman Adam Page have their Wrestle Dream contract signing
